Detroit mansion still bears scars from 1967 riots, sold for $230K

DETROIT (WJBK) - A 1920s-era mansion was just sold in Detroit for $230,000. It's the home's unique history and role in the 1967 riots that are garnering interest.

Half a decade after rioters burned homes and businesses around the area, the sprawling mansion that was in the middle of the war zone looks remarkably the same as it did 50 years ago.

Al Block, a realtor with Remax First, says the home at 7477 La Salle Blvd in Detroit has good bones. Despite the bullet holes that are riddled on the front of the home.

"A tank rolled down this street. They suspected there were snipers in this property. There must have been because there is no reason to shoot up a house way up there," Block said, referring to a window on the second floor. "When I saw the property there are at least 75 to 100 Bullet holes across this thing."

The historic mansion can be celebrated for the detail and quality craftsmanship - or for it's place in Detroit's history. Block said he did his research .

"I went to the Detroit Library and went to the Burton historic room and tried to find as much as I could."

Block said that the timing of the home's sale wasn't a coincidence. His strategy paid off.

"I did that intentionally because I new the 50th anniversary of the riots were coming along," he said. "There were some very unique challenges. The call volume was utterly insane. A ton of interest but you have to wade through because everyone wants to see it."

Eventually the right owner came along and bought the house for $230,000 in cash. All indications are new life will come of a home that survived an era of Detroit history that saw so much carnage.

"It will chalk itself up to one in my career."

It wasn't just this house that was in the cross-hairs of the uprising. Just across the street, a neighbor says her front lawn had a tank parked in front of it for days. Watch the video above and you can still see the slight indentation from the tank.